SL v IND, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka fight back as they finish at 209/2 at stumps
Colombo: Sri Lanka fought back hard on Day three of the second Test against India at Colombo as they reduced their trail to 230 in the follow-on. The current score of the hosts is 209/2, thanks to a ton from Kusal Mendis, and a well contributed 92 by Dimuth Karunaratne, who is still batting.
Having begun the day on 50-2 in the first innings, an exceptional 5-fer spell from spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and equal contributions from Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja restricted the hosts to 183. With a 439 run lead, Sri Lanka was enforced follow-on by India.
In reply, Sri Lanka came back strongly despite losing Upul Tharanga early. A 191-run partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis ensured that the hosts were still in the hunt. Kusal Mendis eventually reached his third Test century. But, soon after, Hardik Pandya provided the breakthrough as he removed the centurion for 110 runs.
It will be a crucial day for Sri Lanka on Sunday as they continue progressing towards the total India set them. India meanwhile, will hope to bundle out the hosts by lunch and seal the series.
Sri Lanka 198/2 from 54.5 overs
Hardik Pandya provided the crucial breakthrough as he removed the dangerman Kusal Mendis for 110, who was looking in good touch. Pandya was ecstatic after getting the wicket, as he ended a brilliant partnership of 191 between Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne.
Sri Lanka 176/1 from 46 overs
The hosts kept on cruising in their second innings as their trail decreased to 263 runs. Kusal Mendis brought up just his third Test century, while Karunaratne has been supporting him well from the other end. There have been several misses for the Men in Blue this time around, as they have already lost two reviews.
Sri Lanka 150/1 from 37 overs
The hosts have come back strongly in their reply during the follow on innings,as they brought up their 150 run mark. The Indian bowlers will have to put their best in order to bowl out Sri Lanka, as both Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne has taken the team ahead.
Tea break: Sri Lanka 118-1 from 29 overs
Sri Lanka powered to 118-1 from 29 overs as they headed for tea. After losing Tharanga, the hosts displayed a fighting effort as both Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne snatched up half centuries.
Umesh Yadav has been the lone wicket-taker in the innings so far, with both Ashwin and Jadeja missing out on oppurtunities. The trail for the Islanders is now 321 runs.
Sri Lanka 52/1 from 15 overs
Sri Lanka went past the 50-run mark as Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis tried to recover the hosts from another early blow, after they lost Upul Tharanga.The Indian spinners continue to torment the lankan batsmen as they continue to trail by 387 runs.
Sri Lanka 7/1 from 3 overs:
WICKET! Umesh Yadav disturbs the timber. Upul Tharanga's horror of a series continues. India strike early in second session, Sri Lanka 1 down.
Sri Lanka 183 all out first innings:
WICKET! That's it. Ashwin has five. Sri Lanka all out for 183. There was absolutely no fight from the hometeam. India have enforced the follow-on after securing a whopping 439-run lead. Lunch is taken and India will bowl again.
Sri Lanka 171/9 from 47.2 overs:
WICKET! Beautiful from R Ashwin. Goes through Dilruwan Perera's defence and disturbs the timber. The Indian offie has his 4th, Sri Lanka 9 down and injured Nuwan Pradeep walks in to bat.
Sri Lanka 152/8 from 42 overs:
WICKET! Ranagan Herath is cleaN bowled by Mohammed Shami. Herath looked for a big whip across the line and the ball hits the middle stump. Shami picks up his second wicket.
Sri Lanka 150/7 from 41.1 overs:
WICKET! Niroshan Dickwella drags one onto the stumps as his entertaining innings comes to an end. Mohammed Shami strikes on his first ball on Day 3. Sri Lanka 7 down.
Sri Lanka 122/6 from 34.5 overs:
WICKET! Boom, the Jadeja special. Turn, bounce and hits the top of the off. Dhananjaya de Silva walks in, Dhananjaya de Silva walks out. All in a space of a few minutes. Golden duck. Sri Lanka 6 down.
Sri Lanka 117/5 from 34 overs:
WICKET! Sensational from Cheteshwar Pujara! Absolutely sensational! Angelo Mathews clips one off his legs, the ball is flying but Pujara's reflexes, oh my word! He goes down to pull off a screamer at leg-slip. Stunner. R Ashwin has his 3rd wicket. Sri Lanka 5 down and in a disarray.
Sri Lanka 64/4 from 25.4 overs:
WICKET! Umesh Yadav joins the party as Kusal Mendis departs. A leading edge from the Sri Lankan and Kohli, the outfielder, does well to hold onto an easy catch after spilling one in the slips in the previous over bowled by Jadeja. India dominate, Sri Lanka's poor show with the bat continues.
Sri Lanka 60/3 from 24.1 overs:
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja's 100th under Virat Kohli's captaincy as Dinesh Chandimal gives an easy catch to Hardik Pandya. India have struck early on Day 3 as Sri Lanka skipper makes his way back to the dressing room.
Colombo: While Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis showed intent to attack R Ashwin at the close of Day 2 of the second Test, Sri Lanka still have their backs to the wall on Day 3 of the Test in Colombo on Saturday. India, after electing to bat on batting-friendly wicket, amassed 622 in the first innings and sent back the Sri Lankan openers.
With Sri Lanka already a bowler short following the injury to Nuwan Pradeep, the Sri Lankan batsmen have their task cut out as they look to score heavily despite the early dismissals of openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga on Day 2. But if the hosts want to put up a fight, Chandimal, Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Mathews will have to bat long and bat well at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
It won’t be an easy task though as the pitch has started assisting the spinners with bounce and a explosion of puff of dust making batting a difficult job and India – with their ace spinner R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on the prowl.
Earlier, India scored 622 after centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane and fifties from KL Rahul, R Ashwin, Wridhhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja.
